Big Blue View
Thoughts on Jalen Milroe, Shedeur Sanders, Abdul Carter, and more
We are less than two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft. Here are some New York Giants-related ‘things I think’ as we count down the days.
Todd McShay of The Ringer put an exclamation point on the rising tide of support for Jalen Milroe as a potential first-round pick when he had the New York Giants trade up to No. 24 to select the Alabama quarterback in his most recent mock draft.
McShay pointed to Brian Daboll’s work with Josh Allen, a quarterback who also came out of college with plus physical traits as a runner and thrower, but consistency and accuracy issues, in teaming Milroe with Daboll for the Giants.
I have come around on the idea of the Giants possibly selecting Milroe, something I thought a couple of months ago would be doomed to fail if it happened.
GM Joe Schoen has talked about wanting a quarterback the Giants can win NFC East titles and Super Bowls with. He wants a quarterback who can lead a team there, not one who would be a passenger needing the perfect supporting cast to get there.
That’s the biggest reason the Giants might pass on Shedeur Sanders at No. 3. There are questions about how high the ceiling is, and how much he would need around him to be truly successful.
With Milroe’s plus athleticism and running ability, along with a cannon arm, there is no question about the ceiling. With his flaws in accuracy, decision-making and consistency, there are massive questions about whether or not he can get close to that ceiling.
If you’re Schoen and Brian Daboll, do you play it safe to ensure you hit a single or a double? Or, do you swing for the home run while acknowledging there is a good chance you will strike out, look silly doing it and end up getting yourself fired?
I am reminded of Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane explaining why he was so aggressive in 2018 in trading up twice to get to No. 7 and select Allen:
As you know, Schoen was Beane’s assistant GM at the time. He saw first-hand a GM putting his reputation and his job on the line for a quarterback who had very apparent flaws.
Daboll also coached Jalen Hurts at Alabama. Milroe draws comparisons to Hurts, justifiably, and we see what kind of player Hurts has become.
The more I think about Milroe to the Giants the more it makes sense. Tyler Shough is a “safe” pick because you know at the least he’s going to be a good backup/sometimes starter for a decade. Jaxson Dart is a “safe” pick if he’s available because he’s the consensus QB3 and at 21 years of age you can bank on development.
Milroe is the big swing, the big gamble. If you are Daboll and Schoen in Year 4 knowing your careers are balanced on the cliff...
